Bicentennial Triple Parallel Run with 3801, D3-639, K184, R761

As part of Australia's bicentennial celebrations, several
steam events were held throughout Australia in 1988.
The
classic
event was the parallel running on three adjacent tracks of four
steam locomotives: 3801, D3-639, K184 and R761. The three trains
ran from Melbourne to Seymour and return, although the R class did
not actually make it back on the day! (Of which more later.)

The 38 was on the standard gauge line that runs from
Melbourne to Sydney, the D3 and K were coupled and on the up broad
gauge line that runs from Albury to Melbourne, and the R was on
the down broad gauge
ibid
. Needless to say, with 3 trains
involved, and over 1000 rail fans, the trains took some
organizing. Special safeworking arrangements were in place to
allow the event, and regular trains were rescheduled around the
event.

R761 disgraced herself by derailing at Seymour, which caused
an added excitement to the day. Recorded here are numerous
photographs of the day.

Image :
dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 79332 bytes, pixels

Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 22 Feb 2000

Photographer : John Hurst

Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17423

Description : 3801 steams out of Spencer Street yards with a standard gauge train, as seen through the windows of a neighbouring broad gauge train.

Image :
dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 81757 bytes, pixels

Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 26 Feb 2000

Photographer : John Hurst

Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17427

Description : More motion.

Image :
dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 71755 bytes, pixels

Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 26 Feb 2000

Photographer : John Hurst

Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17431

Description : The quadruple parallel run photo stop at Bald Hill. In the far distance you can make out the skyline of the Melbourne CBD.

Image :
dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 85766 bytes, pixels

Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 26 Feb 2000

Photographer : John Hurst

Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17432

Description : The quadruple parallel run photo stop at Bald Hill.

Image :
dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 73151 bytes, pixels

Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 26 Feb 2000

Photographer : John Hurst

Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17434

Description : The quadruple parallel run photo stop at Bald Hill.

Image :
dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 66945 bytes, pixels

Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 26 Feb 2000

Photographer : John Hurst

Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17435

Description : The quadruple parallel run photo stop at Bald Hill.

Image :
dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 79465 bytes, pixels

Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 27 Feb 2000

Photographer : John Hurst

Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17437

Description : A view of the mammoth photo line at Bald Hill. Note that the R class seems to be struggling to keep up with the others!

Image :
dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 81263 bytes, pixels

Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 27 Feb 2000

Photographer : John Hurst

Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17438

Description : The continuation of the photo line seen in the
previous image
.

Image :
dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 73929 bytes, pixels

Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 27 Feb 2000

Photographer : John Hurst

Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17440

Description : The photo line was so long, and so spread out, that the organisers held
two
photo runs at this spot. Here we see the start of the second run-past.

Image :
dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 93865 bytes, pixels

Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 27 Feb 2000

Photographer : John Hurst

Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17444

Description : The 38 and two broad gauge locos pause to wait for the R to catch up.

Image :
dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 60200 bytes, pixels

Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 27 Feb 2000

Photographer : John Hurst

Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17445

Description : The R class struggles up to the photo line at Bald Hill.

Image :
dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 92474 bytes, pixels

Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 04 Mar 2000

Photographer : John Hurst

Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17446

Description : The 38 and two broad gauge locos pause to wait for the R to catch up.

Image :
dir=vic/Rclass/ page=R761 76679 bytes, pixels

Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 04 Mar 2000

Photographer : John Hurst

Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17449

Description : R761 amid the hoardes of people taking in the triple parallel run.

Image :
dir=vic/D3class/ page=index 79763 bytes, pixels

Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 04 Mar 2000

Photographer : John Hurst

Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17450

Description : D3-639 takes water at Wallan on the triple parallel run trip.

Image :
dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 38537 bytes, pixels

Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 04 Mar 2000

Photographer : John Hurst

Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17451

Description : Every vantage spot was in use on every train on that day ...

Image :
dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 53378 bytes, pixels

Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 04 Mar 2000

Photographer : John Hurst

Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17452

Description : ... and I mean
every
vantage spot!

Image :
dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 85980 bytes, pixels

Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 18 Mar 2000

Photographer : John Hurst

Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17455

Description : Two trains taken from a third! This photo was taken hanging out the left side of the third train (not in picture) as the two trains to the right swung ahead of it on a long curve near Broadford.

Image :
dir=vic/D3class/ page=index 80011 bytes, pixels

Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 18 Mar 2000

Photographer : John Hurst

Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17457

Description : D3-639 on the dual gauge turntable at Seymour.

Image :
dir=vic/Rclass/ page=R761 113126 bytes, pixels

Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 18 Mar 2000

Photographer : John Hurst

Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17458

Description : Things were going swimmingly on the triple parallel run until R761 derailed while crossing into loco. Here we see her "in the dirt", while anxious railway staff and passengers alike ponder over what will happen next.